Improved profit from property management and strong net leasing

Interim report January - June 2016
THE REPORT IN BRIEF

Second quarter (Apr – Jun)

  · Rental revenue increased 9 per cent to SEK 609 (560) million and operating
net increased 10 per cent to SEK 397 (362) million
  · Profit from property management improved by 24 per cent and was SEK 250
(202) million, which corresponds to SEK 1.37 (1.11) per share
  · Value changes in the property portfolio amounted to SEK 415 (412) million,
primarily due to lower yield requirements, along with improved future cash flows
and investments
  · Profit for the period was SEK 384 (596) million, which corresponds to SEK
2.11 (3.27) per share. The lower level of profit is primarily explained by
falling long-term interest rates during the quarter, which resulted in
unrealised negative value changes on interest rate swaps of SEK –183 (187)
million
  · Net leasing amounted to SEK 32 (–2) million

Comments on events during and after the second quarter

  · Access was gained to the newly built, and fully leased, office building
called Isblocket in Hyllie, just outside Malmö on 1 April
  · A 20-year lease was signed with Kista Hotel Apartments to lease the 6,000
sq. m. property, Holar 1 in Kista in order to open an apartment hotel
  · Net leasing was SEK 32 million, which resulted from a high volume of new
leases and a low level of termination notices in the holdings
  · Non-strategic properties for a value of SEK 193 million were divested,
resulting in a capital gain of SEK 29 million. Geographic concentration will
fall to 60 municipalities once the properties are vacated
  · An unsecured 3-year bond loan for SEK 600 million, with loan limit of SEK 1
billion, was issued


Comments from Biljana Pehrsson, CEO

Kungsleden’s trend of positive development continued in the second quarter. New
leasing and net leasing are both good, development projects are on schedule and
profit from property man­agement increased by 24 per cent. Our opera­tions are
running in a good pace and our leasing results are strong.

Profit from property management increased by 24 per cent to SEK 250 (202)
million. The earnings improvement primarily results from a higher operating net,
which was due to higher rental revenue stemming from the fact we now have a
higher percentage of office properties in Stockholm.

The value of property holdings increased by SEK 415 million during the quarter.
Nearly two-thirds of the value increase is attributable to our properties that
belong to a cluster. The value increase is equally attributable to improved
future cash flows and investments, as well as lower yield requirements. The
leasing potential is good in our priori­tised (and largest) markets: Stockholm,
Gothenburg, Malmö and Västerås. This means that the long-term value potential is
also good.

During the quarter, we issued a bond loan. The funds will be used to refinance
the bond loan that is soon maturing and for general corpo­rate purposes.

STRATEGY: VALUE-GENERATING CLUSTERS
Our strategy involves concentrating property holdings in clusters that are
located in growth areas, at locations with high accessibility and a high demand
for premises. By keeping a long-term perspective and continually improving and
actively managing our properties, we are able to develop not only the properties
themselves, but also the environments around the buildings. This is how we
create attractive places that enrich the everyday working lives of people and
lay the foundation for a high overall return.

We further concentrated the property portfolio during the quarter by exiting
five municipalities. We are now present in 60 municipalities and the long-term
goal is to concentrate the property porfolio to the three major metropolitan
regions along with around 15 other municipalities. In total, we divested non
-strategic properties and residential building rights during the quarter for a
value of SEK 193 million, resulting in a capital gain of SEK 29 million. The
total value of the property portfolio now amounts to SEK 28.3 billion, with more
than three quarters of the value derived from the priority markets. Stockholm
accounts for 43 per cent, and the eleven clusters for 62 per cent, of the
portfolio.

We are continually fortifying our organisation in the clusters. For example,
during the quarter we set up a local office at Gärdet/Frihamnen. The cluster
strategy is enabling Kungsleden to grow increasingly stronger.

UPWARD TREND IN RENTS CONTINUES
The rental market remains very strong in our most important markets thanks to
low vacancy levels and a high demand for premises. New leasing amounted to SEK
48 million. Fewer properties were vacated in conjunction with lease termination
and net leasing amounted to SEK 32 million. Demand has been particularly high at
our clusters, where net leasing was SEK 28 million.

In total, rental revenue increased by 9 per cent to SEK 609 (560) million during
the quarter. We renegotiated leases during the quarter for a value of SEK 28.3
million resulting in a rental increase of 6 per­cent, on average. Rental revenue
for adjusted comparable holdings in­creased by 1.4 per cent.

In Hyllie, just outside Malmö, the newly built office property, Vagnslidret 1
(Isblocket), which we acquired about a year ago, is now fully leased. The value
of this property was written up by SEK 36 mil­lion thanks to higher rents and
lower yield requirements.

At Warfvinges väg in Stockholm, we leased out 750 sq. m. to the restaurant
operator, Matdistriktet i Stockholm AB in the property Lustgården 12. The
restaurant will be a destination were people can eat and meet. It also makes an
important contribution to creating an attractive, vibrant environment in the
western part of Kungsholmen.

DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION PHASE
Property development is becoming increasingly important to us and significant
progress was made in several projects during the quarter.

In Växjö, our vision is to transform the sub-optimal, Tegnérgallerian, into an
attractive retail destination, with shops lining the pedestrian street.
Subsequent to the end of the quarter, we signed a long-term lease for 3,000 sq.
m. with a prominent anchor tenant. This means that the outlook on realising our
vision for Tegnérgallerian is very good.

Nobis will open a design hotel on Gävlegatan in Stockholm, in the property
Blästern 14. During the quarter, zoning for the block gained legal force, which
means that we are now able to add on two-stories, totalling 860 sq. m., along
with a roof terrace on the courtyard build­ing. Nobis has also signed an
agreement to lease that space as well.

In Kista, we signed a 20-year lease with Kista Hotel Apartments pertaining to
the property Holar 1, where an apartment hotel will be set up. The new leases at
Holar 1 in Kista and Tegnér 15 in Växjö mean that these properties now enter the
implementation stage.

WE WELCOME OUR FIRST TRAINEES
During the quarter, we welcomed three young trainees to the organisa­tion. A
number of new employees under the age of 30 have also been hired into our
property management and leasing functions. This is in line with our efforts to
revitalise Kungsleden and improve age diversi­fication at the company.

To inspire and develop our employees, we hold the Kungsleden Prop­erty Days
every other year. In June, around 40 employees from our management, leasing,
development and transaction functions partici­pated in this year’s event, where
the theme was “offices of the future”. We also focused on ways of increasing our
revenue. These “Property Days” are part of our continual efforts to remain on
the forefront when it comes to future customer needs and customer relations.

BREXIT AND OUTLOOK
European financial markets reacted negatively to Brexit and there is a high
level of political unrest in the UK and EU. The question remains as to the
effect this will have on growth in Europe, and whether there will be any impact
on the property market. We can already see that the effects on the British
economy and property market are negative and profound. For the rest of Europe
and Sweden, my best assessment at this time is that Brexit will first and
foremost have political consequences. I anticipate a slight drop in European
growth, but the European central banks appear to be acting in unison in order to
keep interest rates low. Sweden’s growth will remain strong compared to the rest
of Europe, since it is primarily fuelled by domestic demand.

Accordingly, I anticipate that the demand for premises will remain strong, along
with an upward trend in rents, particularly in regards to high quality
properties in good locations in Sweden’s largest cities. For Stockholm, already
8th on the list of cities in the world with the most global headquarters, Brexit
may also result in new opportunities if companies relocate from London to other
cities. Risk tolerance could fall in the transaction market, particularly if
access to financing worsens as a result of Brexit. It is difficult to predict
how this will play out. There could be benefits, such as a higher level of
investment in property types regarded as “safe”. But, the overall market might
also cool down.

However, it is important to point out that Kungsleden’s strategy is not reliant
on a persistent macroeconomic or market upswing. Our focus on flexible,
attractive, clustered properties in major metropolitan areas and growth regions
is based on an analysis of long-term trends that fundamentally impact the
property market. I am convinced that we are generating lasting value by
realising this strategy in our every­day efforts with customers and properties.
For more information, please contact:

Biljana Pehrsson, Chief Executive of Kungsleden | +46 (0)8 503 052 04 |
biljana.pehrsson@kungsleden.se
Anders Kvist, Deputy CEO and CFO of Kungsleden | +46 (0)8 503 052 11 |
anders.kvist@kungsleden.se

www.kungsleden.se
Detta pressmeddelande finns tillgängligt på svenska på
www.kungsleden.se/pressmeddelanden

This information is information that Kungsleden AB (publ) is obliged to make
public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and the Securities Markets
Act. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the
contact persons set out above, at 7:00 a.m CET on 13 July 2016.

Kungsleden owns, manages and develops office and other commercial properties in
Stockholm and Sweden’s additional growth markets. We create value by providing
attractive and functional premises in the right location at the right price. A
significant part of our properties are gathered in clusters, which enrich
people’s workday. Kungsleden’s goal is to deliver attractive total returns on
our properties and to our shareholders.